Adjustable brake-head.



Patented July 29, I902.

.e. P. BITTER. ADJUSTABLE BRAKE HEAD. (Application filed m 15 9 2 (NoModel.)

UNITED 'STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT P. BITTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE BRAKE-H EAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,611, dated July29,1902.

Application filed-May 15.1902. SerialNo. 107.479. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: p 7

Be it known that I, GILBERT P. BITTER, a

citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chi", cago, in the county ofCook, State of Illinois,

tached transverse central section of the brake-' head. Fig. 4 is adetached longitudinal central section of the end of the brake-beam; andFig. 5 is an end view of that portion of the brake-beam shownin'section,Fig. 4.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of that class of br'akerhead'sfor use on brakebeams in railway service wherein the brake head is of acharacter to automatically adjust itself with relation to the peripheryof the carwheel and with relation to the line of applied force, so as torelieve the brake-beam of torsional strains, and after said adjustmentto retain its position so long as the conditions remain unchanged.

Those familiar with railway practice are aware that the relativeposition of the brakehead to the wheeland to the brake-beam must bechanged to accommodate the various heights above the track at which thebeam is hung, whether the beam is an inside or outside hung beam, andaccording to the diameter of the wheel in order to obtain the bestbraking effect or proper application of the brake-shoe to the wheel andto avoid undue torsional strains on the brake-beam. To meet theserequirements of railway practice in a simple, economical, and effectivemanner is the object of the present invention; and to that end the mainfeature of my present invention may be generally stated to reside in thecombination, with a brake-head having a journal-opening for thereception of the journal end of a brake-beam, of a friction strapgrip-tongue coincident with the journal-opening and anchored or securedto the brakehead, whereby the brake-head is secured to the beam againstaccidental displacement, but -may automatically adjust itself underbraking force.

There are other minor features of invention, all as will hereinaftermore fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe myinven tion more fully, so that othersskilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A'indicates the journal end of a brake-beam to whichthe brake-head embodying my invention is to be .applied. The brake-beammay be of any character, provided it has a journal end to receive thebrake-head. In the presentinstance the part A is shown as a castinghaving a socketb for the end'of ,thecompression member B, an

' opening c for thepassage of the end of the tension member 0 of'atrussed brake-beam, a seat at for the nut D on the end of the tensionmember, and a flange f to limit the inward movement of the brake-head onthe journal A.

1 indicates the brake-head, provided with a suitable journal-opening 2and a recess 3 for the reception of the grip-tongue. This recess 3 whereit coincides with the journal-opening 2 should be of such depth as topermit of at least a limited play of the grip-tongue to permit theapplication to and removal from the journal A ofthe brake-head 1 and ispreferably an open slot at such point as shown in the drawings,extending thence into the lower end of the brake-head, as at 3, where itmay be enlarged,and finally terminating in a channel 3 adapted toconfine'andsecure the an chored end ofsaid grip-tongue.

4 indicates the strap grip-tongue, which is preferably of a fiat stripof spring metal curved, as at 4a, to conform to the journal A on the endof the brake-beam and straight, as at 4 where it is anchored to thebrakehead. If desired, the-grip-tongue 1 may be secured to thebrake-head by "allowing the end 4* of the grip-tongue to project andbendthe tongue to the brake-head.

5 indicates a set-screw which passes through ing the same up or byriveting the end of the brake-head opposite the cavity 3*, the in-- norend of which impinges on the grip-tongue 4 and by means of which thegrip of the tongue 4 on the journal A may be regulated at will aswell asany wear of the parts taken up.

As shown in the drawings, the journal end A of the brake-beam isrecessed r channeled, as at a, to form a seat for the grip-tongue 4; butthe same is not necessary, though if used it will add somewhat to thesecurity of the brake-head against lateral movement on the journal A.

The construction of the devices being substantially such as hereinbeforepointed out, the strap grip-tongue at is inserted in the recess 3 3 3 ofthe brake-head, the set-screw 5 being withdrawn. The brake-head is thenslipped on the journal end A of the brakebeam and the set-screw 5 turneddown to give the grip-tongue the desired frictional grip on the journalA of the beam. In applying the brake-head to the beam no specialadjustment thereof other than for the fric-' tion-grip is required, forthe reason that in service the first application of the brakes willovercome the friction-grip of the strap or tongue on the journal andcause the partial rotation of the brake-head until the brakeshoe hasassumed its proper relation to the periphery of the car-wheel and thebrakehead its proper relation to the brake-beam, which position it willmaintain after the brakes are released and until a subsequentapplication of the brakes under changed conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a brake-head having a journal-opening, of astrap grip-tongue coincident with the journal-opening and anchored tothe brake-head, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination with a brake-head having a journal-opening, of acurved spring grip-tongue coincident with the journal-opening andanchored to the brake-head, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

3. The combination with a brake-head having a journal-opening of agrip-tongue coincident with the journal-opening, and a setscrew whichbears on the grip-tongue, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

4. The combination with a brake-head of a curved spring grip-tonguehaving its curve coincident with the journal-opening, and a set-screwwhich bears on the curved spring grip-tongue, substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this th day of May, 1902.

GILBERT P. BITTER.

Witnesses:

EDWIN S. OLARKsoN, JNo. R. ADAMS.

